Tech & Science dictionary
GNews
or gnews [jee nooz] or [nooz]
What does GNews听尘别补苍?
GNews听is a news notification program for the Google Chrome internet browser.
It was also a punning catchphrase of a wildebeest (gnu) character from听a 1980s TV puppet show.
Where does GNews come from?
骋狈别飞蝉听was launched in 2012 as an extension鈥攁 special, customizable app鈥攐n Chrome, Google’s internet browser.听GNews听now provides screen notifications from Google News, the company’s widely used news aggregator, of top headlines as they are published. The G stands for Google, but GNews is itself technically not an abbreviation for the larger service, Google News; it is听simply the name for the Chrome extension.
Unrelated to GNews is gnews,听seen in the early 1980s children’s TV program,听The Great Space Coaster. On the show, Gary the Gnu was a puppet, wildebeest (which is also called a gnu), TV-news anchor. He was known for his catchphrase punning on his profession and species:听鈥淣o Gnews is Good Gnews听with Gary Gnu.鈥�
Examples of GNews
Who uses GNews?
GNews听is primarily used in online writing to refer to the Chrome extension or in links to articles from the GNews app.
Gary the Gnu’s gnews is occasionally referenced in nostalgic discussions of the puppet show and of the early 1980s more generally. Some people have taken to typing no gnews is good gnews in playful allusion to Gary the Gnu when, say, reporting on some personal matter.
Donald Trump’s frequent use of the term听fake news听has prompted many online, especially Twitter, users to make puns similar to Gary the Gnu, posting听fake gnus along with pictures of toy wildebeest figurines or drawings of the animal.
Note
This is not meant to be a formal definition of GNews like most terms we define on Dictionary.com, but is rather an informal word summary that hopefully touches upon the key aspects of the meaning and usage of GNews that will help our users expand their word mastery.